https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/cristiano-ronaldo-receives-quinas-de-oro-award-as-best-portuguese-player-in-2017Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scooped this prize for a second successive year, was on hand to collect the trophy at the Portuguese football gala held on Monday at Lisbon's Pavilhão Carlos Lopes.

This latest distinction takes its place alongside the other accolades he picked up in what was a stunning 2017, which notably saw him clinch the Ballon d'Or and the The Best award. It was a year in which he again scored over 50 goals (42 in a Real Madrid shirt and 11 for Portugal), whilst he lifted five pieces of silverware with the Whites: LaLiga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Quinas de Oro gala ceremony
Organised by the Portuguese Football Federation, the Association of Football Coaches and the Players' Union, the Quinas de Oro gala recognised the efforts of the top performing Portuguese men and women in football, futsal and beach soccer in 2017, both within Portugal and aboard. In the gala's inaugural edition, which took place in 2015 to mark the Portuguese Federation's 100th anniversary, Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the distinction as the greatest player in the country's history.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/clean-sweep-of-bernabeu-wins-in-second-half-of-laliga-campaignSantiago Bernabéu continues to be an extremely tough place for visiting sides to come to. Real Madrid would appear to grow in stature when playing in front of their own fans, where, as Girona discovered on Sunday, they revel in showcasing all of their attacking prowess. Indeed, since the start of the second half of the LaLiga campaign on 21 January, Zinedine Zidane's men have recorded a clean sweep of wins on home soil: five games and five convincing wins, which have seen the hosts rack up 24 goals.

This run all began against Deportivo La Coruña, who suffered the heaviest defeat recorded in LaLiga this term (7-1). On 10 Februrary, Real Madrid toppled Real Sociedad (5-2) before a fortnight later seeing off Alavés (3-1). The team's latest three points came courtesy of the 6-3 drubbing of Girona, whilst the Whites also got the better of Getafe in the sides' meeting on 3 March (3-1).

Goalscorers
As the side have averaged nearly five goals a game in this sequence of fixtures, Cristiano Ronaldo's contribution is particularly worthy of mention. The Portuguese frontman has notched up 13 of the team's 24 goals in this run. He is followed in the standings by Gareth Bale (five) and Lucas Vázquez and Nacho, who have chipped in with two goals apiece. Meanwhile, Toni Kroos and LukaModric have both got their names on the scoresheet once.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/kroos-has-now-laid-on-goals-for-five-teammatesToni Kroos and Cristiano Ronaldo combined for two of the team's goals in the win over Girona and the German midfielder has now provided assists for five of his teammates so far this campaign. The first player to convert from a Kroos pass was Karim Benzema, in the rout over APOEL in the Champions League. The rest of Kroos's assists have come in the league, with Gareth Bale (two), Cristiano Ronaldo (two), Casemiro and Sergio Ramos all profiting from his passes.

These seven assists place him in joint-second spot in the Real Madrid assist rankings, alongside Marcelo and Benzema. Coming in ahead of them in the standings is Lucas Vázquez, who has racked up 10 assists. In terms of his contribution in the final third this term, Kroos also has four goals to his name.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/laso-i-always-expect-the-best-from-valencia-basketPablo Laso and Felipe Reyes addressed the media in the build-up to the EuroLeague Round 27 match-up between Valencia Basket and Real Madrid (8:30pm CET). The Whites' coach previewed the contest in the following terms: "I always expect the best from Valencia Basket. They've had a decent EuroLeague campaign, they're out of the competition but they've been involved in some tight games and they're on their own floor, where they're very strong, both on the outside and the inside. We know that if we're to win we'll have to put in a really good performance".

"I see the roster as being in good shape. At times it's tough to keep the intensity and concentation levels up all the time but that's the case for all of the teams in Europe who have so many games. We're welcoming back players that have been out for a long time and that gives me a lot of comfort".

Doncic
"He's doing better and this was the first day that he has been back with the group. We'll have to see how he is tomorrow. I don't want to be too optimistic or negative. It's always a risk to rush things with muscular injuries but it would be madness not to play him if he's fit. He'll travel with the team and we'll decide tomorrow".

Reyes: "It'll be a really tough game"
"It'll be a really tough game because Valencia are always tricky opposition and there's great rivalry. Although they're already mathematically out of the competition they'll be keen to give their fans something to shout about by beating Real Madrid. We head there well prepared because it's a very important game for us. We've got four rounds left and they're four cup finals to achieve our target".

"They won't have any pressure on them and that'll give them a lift. But when you're out of the competition you can also tend to ease off and we'll have to make the most of that. We have to forget about that and play our game. If we defend hard and dominate the rebounds we'll be in with a very good chance of winning".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/cristiano-ronaldo-highest-scorer-in-the-top-european-leagues-in-2018Cristiano Ronaldo bagged another four-goal haul against Girona and is cementing his place as the top scorer in 2018 amongst the top leagues in Europe. The Real Madrid forward has had a spectacular start to the year with 18 goals in the 11 games he’s played. In the Spanish league, he leads the way, ahead of Griezmann (12), Luis Suárez (11) and Messi (10). Outside of Spain, his dominance sees him ahead of Salah (11, Liverpool), Neymar (9, PSG), Immobile (8, Lazio) and Lewandowski (8, Bayern Munich).

The Madrid forward is on a fantastic run of eight consecutive games scoring. Cristiano has not stopped scoring for more than a month, with the run beginning on 10 February against Real Sociedad, netting 17 goals along the way. During this streak he also scored three goals in the Champions League tie against PSG. Taking into account the full season, Cristiano has notched 37 goals in all competitions.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/the-real-madrid-foundation-presents-the-corazon-classic-match-2018-‘football-for-the-children’Santiago Bernabéu will host a big game in the summer with a charitable objective. The ninth edition of the Corazón Classic Match, organised by the Real Madrid Foundation, will go ahead on 3 June when the legends of Real Madrid play Arsenal on the pitch at the Whites’ fortress. Florentino Pérez presided over the event in the presidential box at the Santiago Bernabéu, with proceeds of the event going to the Foundation's projects aimed at helping children in need.

As well as the Real Madrid president, the event was attended by Peter Silverstone, director of Business Development at Arsenal; and veterans of both clubs like Raúl, Guti, Solari, Morientes, Gallego, Baptista, Morales, García Cortes and Robert Pires; as well as members of the Board of Directors of Real Madrid and patrons of the Foundation.

After showing a video about the charity meeting, Florentino Pérez spoke first: "We are here for another year to present a new edition of what has become one of our charitable traditions. A highly emotional event which we celebrate every season. Real Madrid and Arsenal are going to star in the Corazón Classic Match 2018, Fútbol por la infancia, where the proceeds will go to Real Madrid Foundation projects that are aimed at children who need it most, the most vulnerable".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/the-corazon-classic-match-2018-‘football-for-the-children’-will-be-presented-on-mondaySantiago Bernabéu stadium will host the presentation of the Corazon Classic Match 2018 ‘Fútbol por la infancia’ today, 19 March (1:30 pm), a game which will take place between Real Madrid Legends and Arsenal Legends. The match will be held on Sunday 3 June and the benefits will go to Real Madrid Foundation projects for children.

The event will be attended by the president of Real Madrid C. F. and the Real Madrid Foundation, Florentino Pérez; Director of Business Development at Arsenal, Peter Silverstone and players from Real Madrid Legends and Arsenal Legends.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-atletico-to-be-played-on-sunday-8-april-at-415pmReal Madrid taking on Atlético de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday 8 April at 4:15pm CEST.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/find-out-the-winners-of-the-pairs-of-vip-football-ticketsFind out who were the lucky winners who received pairs of football Hospitality tickets in the February monthly draw. The Whites’ supporters, along with their friends and family, were present at Real Madrid’s victory over Girona (6-3). They saw the game from a unique setting, as they received all the care and attention of the most exclusive area of the stadium.

And the passion for Real Madrid is so big that Madridistas from outside the capital travelled to see the Whites and take advantage of the VIP tickets. Like the case of Rameez Mohammed, who traveled from the United States as he didn’t want to miss the match against Girona.

The lucky winners who had this experience were:

Name and surname

City

Fernando Sanchez Jimenez

Madrid

Miguel Santa Olalla Rodriguez

Madrid

Rameez Mohammed

USA Florida

Carlos Ruiz Gea

Madrid

Yaser Souraki

Madrid

Congratulations!

And remember, just by being a Member or Madridista Card Holder you will automatically be entered into the monthly draw for football and basketball Hospitality tickets, free of charge. If you are not yet a Madridista Card Holder, you can apply for your card by clicking here or calling the Madridista Hotline on +34 91 347 24 00.

If you would like to purchase Hospitality tickets, prices start at €250, depending on the game and the competition. For more information about Real Madrid Hospitality tickets click here.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/lucas-vazquez-i-try-to-pay-back-the-trust-placed-in-me-with-goals-and-assistsReal Madrid’s third goal against Girona and spoke to the media after the game: "Today was a big game, it was important to win and do it in style. We put in a good performance and now we’re going in to the international break, which will do us good. We’ll go and work with the national team and when we come back we have some important matches and we have to be ready to perform".

"I'm happy with how things are going, enjoying getting minutes and playing with confidence. I try to give my all and work hard, paying back the trust placed in me with goals, assists and helping the team win".

Cristiano Ronaldo
"He's on unbelievable form at the moment, he helps the team with his work, with goals and assists. Everyone benefits from it. We’ve got a great squad with great players and the coach has a difficult job to pick eleven. We have to work as hard as possible and he’ll decide who plays".

Benzema
"Karim was brilliant. He created a lot chances and was involve in a lot of the play. He didn’t have much luck in front of goal today, but if he continues like this, he’ll score lots of goals".

Nacho: "I’m sure the fans have enjoyed it"
"I’m sure the fans have enjoyed it. It was a game with lots of goals, we were comfortable out on the pitch. It's true that we didn’t have much luck from the set pieces, but the important thing was to win and continue with the good run".

"We went 1-0 up and were in control, dominating the game and we then went and conceded. We spoke about it at half-time and made a bright start to the second half. The team performed very well overall and put in a great performance, we bossed possession and created a number of chances".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/zidane-we-scored-some-amazing-goals-thanks-to-the-whole-teamZidane was satisfied with his team’s win against Girona. The Real Madrid coach spoke about the match in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu and praised Cristiano Ronaldo: "He’s a very important player for us. He transmits an important and positive energy to the group. He knows himself very well and knows when he has to stop a little. He’s always in very good form come the end of the season. He’s got an eye for goal and he’ll never lose that. Cristiano has scored 22 goals, three behind Messi and hopefully he can catch him, it’s important for him and for us too. When he’s playing well, the team plays well".

"He’s unbelievably ambitious and that comes across in every training session and in everything he does on the pitch. If he has a penalty in training, he will take it with the maximum concentration. It’s what makes him different from the rest. He’s an important player for our team, but others help him a lot. For example, the move with Karim or Lucas Vázquez’s goal. We scored amazing goals today and that’s down to the whole team".

Good form
"We’re only interested in carrying on like this. We want to try to take second place. We’ve rediscovered our confidence in recent matches. We’ve scored lots of goals at home of late. It's something that we didn’t do at the start of the season. We’re on good form at the moment and on a positive run. I’m happy for all the players because we’ve never thrown the towel in. We’re going to try to continue in this vein".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/cristiano-ronaldo-8-games-scoring-four-or-more-goals-for-real-madridCristiano Ronaldo put on another masterclass against Girona, scoring four of the six Real Madrid goals at the Bernabéu. It’s the eighth time he’s bagged four or more goals in a game during his time with the Whites, notching four in a game on six occasions and five in two separate matches. His first came in the 2010/11 season, scoring four in a home win against Racing Santander. That same season he did the same against Sevilla at the Sánchez Pizjuán.

In the 2014/15 campaign Ronaldo got a four-goal haul against Elche at home and then his first five goals in a game came against Granada at the Bernabéu. In the early stages of the following LaLiga season he again bagged five in a match, this time away at Espanyol. A few months later he recorded his most goals in a Champions League match against Malmö (four).

Record-breaking goalscorer
Finally, his previous four-goal display prior to tonight's exploits against Girona came in the 2015/16 LaLiga campaign, in the 7-1 rout over Celta. All of these goal-filled performances see Cristiano Ronaldo, who is Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer with 444 goals in 429 outings, keep up what's an unrivaled scoring return in the club's history.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/6-3-attacking-masterclass-sees-cristiano-ronaldo-hit-fourReal Madrid made it four consecutive wins after beating Girona to head in to the international break on the back of a perfect month of March. This season’s surprise package couldn’t do anything to stop the attacking Masterclass put on by the Whites, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way with a four-goal haul.

From the off Real Madrid looked dangerous and had two good chances before opening the scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo had the first, but his free-kick after five minutes was saved by Bono in the Girona goal. Two minutes later, Karim Benzema played in Lucas Vázquez with a great ball, but the visiting goalkeeper was equal to it and kept him out in the one-on-one.

Set piece
The first Whites’ goal came from a set piece. Kroos took a short corner to Marcelo, who returned the pass to the German midfielder, his cross picked out Cristiano Ronaldo who struck it first time from around the penalty spot. Another side that the Portuguese forward has scored against, making it 64 different teams on the receiving end of his goals in a Real Madrid shirt.

Girona levelled things up
Girona almost equalised on the quarter-hour mark, a good cross from Mojica saw Portu just inches away from finding the back of the net. The home side continued to attack and would have doubled their lead but for the assistant referee’s flag, which denied Lucas Vázquez from making it 2-0 when the wide man was clearly onside. Five minutes later the visitors drew level. Granell swung in a corner which Stuani powered home with his head. The hosts pushed forward in search for a second but the teams went in at the break all square, despite Real Madrid having two good chances before the interval. Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck from the edge of the area after 33' but Bono saved the effort at the second attempt. The goalkeeper was again called in to action three minutes later, turning away an Asensio free-kick.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrids-starting-line-up-against-gironaReal Madrid's starting line-up has been confirmed ahead of their LaLiga Matchday 29 encounter against Gironaat the Santiago Bernabéu (8:45pm CET).

Real Madrid line-up:
1. Keylor Navas
2. Carvajal
5. Varane
6. Nacho
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
8. Kroos
9. Benzema
12. Marcelo
17. Lucas Vázquez
20. Asensio
23. Kovacic.
Substitutes:
13. Casilla
3. Vallejo
10. Modric
11. Bale
14. Casemiro
15. Theo
22. Isco.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/0-0-a-point-that-should-have-been-more-in-the-derbyGroup I of Segunda B ended in a draw. Real Madrid Castilla went looking for the victory at Cerro del Espino, playing all the football and creating chances but they were not able to find a way past Atlético de Madrid B, who were kept in the game by San Román in the later stages of the match.

The first half was played at a high intensity in the centre of the park, both teams working hard to try to control the game. The danger came in isolated incidents before the break, especially down the right side where Feuillassier was causing problems for the Whites in the first period. Arona struck the post for the home side with 20 minutes on the clock, while at the other end Quezada forced a save out of San Román who then kept out Feuillassier on the rebound in the 33rd minute.

The goalkeeper kept them in it
As Atletico sat back, Solari’s side dominated in the second half. He tried to find a way through, attacking down both sides as well as trying their luck from distance as they looked to take home the three points from Cerro del Espino, but they were unable to find a way past the home goalkeeper. In the final minutes San Román pulled off saves from the headers of Seoane and Quezada meaning that Castilla had to settle for a draw in the derby.

REAL MADRID SQUAD:Goalkeepers: Navas and Casilla.Defenders: Carvajal, Vallejo, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo and Theo.Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Asensio, Isco and Kovacic.Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale and Lucas Vázquez.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-vs-girona-this-seasons-laliga-surprise-package-set-to-test-the-madridista-runReal Madrid head back to the Santiago Bernabéu fifteen days after their win over Getafe for what will be a first-time clash on madridista turf. Girona come to the Whites' home ground as LaLiga's surprise package this season, and they'll be hoping to provide an upset to end a fine run for the hosts in March (8:45pm CET).

The madridistas are enjoying a three-match winning run having seen off Getafe (3-1) and Éibar (1-2) in the league and PSG (1-2) in the Champions League. They'll be aiming to make it four before going into next week's international break.
]]>
]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/laso-it-was-a-very-positive-displayLaso and Felipe Reyes spoke following Real Madrid's win over Tecnyconta Zaragoza (81-96). The coach said: “It was a very positive display. In general, we played very well in the first half and made very few mistakes. We were very solid defensively, rebounded well and chose our moments to attack brilliantly. That mean we showed some very good numbers”.

“After the break, with the game effectively over, we knew we had to keep working hard and not allow them to get back into the game. We knew they'd have a chance from the three-point line, they grew in confidence, but we always felt in control of the match. We won by 15 points away from home in the league and that's not easy”.

Good play
“The rebound saw us dominate the pace of the game and then the assists started to flow because we moved the ball superbly. We got a lot of open shots, which we knew would be crucial against their defense, finding that extra pass. In general terms, we did a good job throughout the match”.

Resting up
“We were able to rotate a bit, knowing we've got a tough week ahead, with three games. There were some intense games last week, we had to rest and put the work in before travelling here. We needed to switch things around today, so nobody had too many minutes and in that sense we did a good job and everyone played their part”.

Reyes: “We needed the rest this week”
“I'm happy with the win and the team's performance today, and now we've got to rest up a bit because it's a tough week coming up. I feel great. I've got a wonderful family who help me feel happy and that's reflected on the court. I've been luck with injuries, and I'll keep going as long as my body allows. We needed the rest this week and we came here with real hunger and put in a great performance”.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/81-96-madrid-look-solid-as-they-dominate-from-beginning-to-end-in-zaragozaReal Madrid continue their firm hold over the Endesa League, as they picked up their twentieth win this evening. It was a focused performance from the off at the Príncipe Felipe, as the Whites' defense suffocated Tecnyconta Zaragoza in the first half, while always enjoying great success near the hoop. They were dominant right from the first quarter, and it was Rudy who took the game away from the opposition, alongside a solid Campazzo (19 points and 27 PIR) and a record-breaking Reyes (16 and 26). The Whites' attentions now turn to the three games in the coming week.

Real Madrid refused to be caught out, ever since the imposing Tavares won the tip-off. He went on to take 4 points, four rebounds and a dunk and a block for good measure all inside the first ten minutes. The Whites pulled away consistently on the scoreboard, while two good runs from the host brought them back into the game periodically. Until, that was, Madrid stepped it up from the 6.75. Three triples in a row (Campazzo and two for Rudy) made it 12-22.

Wonderful Rudy
The Mallorcan (13 points) kept up his impressive display in the second period. Rebounding, winning it back, assisting, he forced a sporting foul and scored 4 from 4 of his three-pointers to effectively kill the game. Reyeswas colossal alongside him (10 points), becoming the league's sixth-highest all-time scorer. Zaragoza suffered a points drought, unable to find the basket for more than three minutes, or deal with a rampant Real Madrid who sped to a 27-point advantage restricting Gary Neal to just 2 (27-53).]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/reyes-becomes-sixth-highest-scorer-in-league-historyReyes shows no sign of letting up in the pursuit of legendary status in Spanish basketball. With his 16 points against Tecnyconta Zaragoza, the Real Madrid captain became the sixth-highest scorer in ACB history. With a total of 7,943 points, he eclipses the 7,929 notched by Joan Creus. "I'm thrilled to keep overtaking such great players, it's what I work towards every day", said the Real Madrid captain. The list is led by Alberto Herreros, the Whites' current basketball technical director.

Reyes, who has just turned 38 years' old, is also the second-highest scorer still active in the competition. The Cordoba-born power forward is in his twentieth league campaign, 14 of which have come with the Whites, averaging 10.7 points per game. If he maintains this average, he could reach Granger Hall in this very season to move into fifth position (8,039). The top spots are reserved for Alberto Herreros (9,759), Jordi Villacampa (8,991), Brian Jackson (8,651) and Juan Carlos Navarro (8,246).

Euroleague Top-3
The Real Madrid captain also made recent Euroleague history, becoming the third-highest scorer in the history of the continental competition in the clash with Fenerbahçe.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/kroos-has-been-laligas-top-passer-since-2014Kroos is as near to perfection as it gets when it comes to passing the ball.Since joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2014, he has been LaLiga's top performing player in this particular department. The Whites' midfielder boasts an impressive 92.7% passing accuracy and tops the division's standings for the number of successful passes. Coming in behind him are Sergio Busquets (90.41%) and teammate Luka Modric (90.21 %).

Kroos, who has racked up a total of 7,775 passes in league fixtures, barely sees his form dip when playing the ball in the opposition's half, where his accurracy rate is 90.64%. The German international, who consistently ends each season with pass accuracy figures above 90%, has made 1,418 successful passes in the current LaLiga campaign and holds an accuracy rate of 92.2%.

In addition to his passing abilities, Kroos is also an expert set-piece taker. Indeed, the majority of the 28 assists he has chalked up since his arrival in LaLiga have come from deadball sitautions. This assists tally sees Kroos take his place right behind Cristiano Ronaldo (33) in the team's assist stakes. In addition, Kroos has notched up 10 league goals in his Real Madrid career. He most certainly represents a key cog in the European champions' engine room.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/zidane-weve-had-a-good-week-and-are-looking-forward-to-the-girona-game are having a really good season, but the most important thing is what we go and do out there", added the Whites' boss.]]>inedine Zidane addressed the media gathered inside the press room at Real Madrid City on the eve of his side's game against Girona. The Whites' boss previewed the encounter in the following terms: "Not having any games this week has done us a lot of good and has allowed us to train and recover. LaLiga is a really competitive competition. There are no small sides and all of the teams are very strong. Girona are having a really good season. We study the opposition but the most important thing is what we go and do out there. We've worked really well this week and are looking forward to tomorrow's game.

"All of the players enjoy playing games, but when you look at the league standings it's tough for us to challenge for the LaLiga title. We have to see all of the games as being important in terms of our preparation. We're sitting in third at the moment and we've got to reclaim second spot, it's a significant target. Tomorrow we've got another chance to put in a great performance".

International break
"There's nothing we can do about it. All of the players are ready and 19 of them are going to join up with their national teams. That's a lot of them but playing for your national team is important for our internationals because they're representing their country. That's the way the calendar is and I'm not sure whether it's right, but we've got to respect it. The only thing we want is for them to come back healthy and fit".

Quarter-final against Juventus
"I see them as being just as strong as they were last year. They're a competitive side, as they always are, and it'll be a tough tie. It's 50-50 at the minute. We go to their place first and we'll have to see how it goes. I never thought there would be such a thing as hot and cold balls. We've been paired with strong opposition, but at this stage of the competition they're all good sides".]]>
]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/final-session-ahead-of-girona-clashReal Madrid squad completed their final training session ahead of Sunday's LaLiga encounter against Gironaat the Santiago Bernabéu (8:45pm CET), with ball work taking centre stage in a workout for which Zinedine Zidane drafted in Juvenil A goalkeeper Darío.

The madridistas began their final session of the week with various warm-up exercises with the ball. Next up, the players worked on possession and pressure exercises and crossing and finishing drills. The session was rounded off with matches played on reduced-sized pitches. ]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/tecnyconta-zaragoza-v-real-madrid-leaders-go-in-search-of-20th-win-of-seasonReal Madrid heads to the Príncipe Felipe looking to rack up its 20th win of the season. Madrid will be aiming to take victory on this court, which has historically been a happy hunting ground, so as to tighten its grip on top spot. With the team sitting amongst the top four in the EuroLeague and after having downed Olimpia Milanlast Tuesday, it's now time for the Whites to shift the focus and take on aTecnyconta Zaragoza team that lies in the lower reaches of the standings. This game comes ahead of a week featuring three matches in the space of seven days.

Dominance in the scoring stakes
This is a second straight road trip for Pablo Laso's men, who are dominating in the league in terms of victoriesand lead the way in stats such as offensive record, the valuation and defensive rebounds. The Whites are the only team to have surpassed the 200-point mark in the domestic competition in the 22 rounds of games played so far, averaging 91.1 points per game.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/lucas-vazquez-well-be-giving-every-last-ounce-against-juventus
"What I'd say to our fans is that we'll be giving every last ounce for them. We'll try and get through and if we all pull in the same direction, we'll do just that".

Mahou event
"That was the first time for me in the dugout. It's special, it's different to being a player and you never know what the future holds. First of all I just want to focus on my playing career and then we'll see what happens".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/laso-all-of-the-teams-are-now-pushing-and-we-cant-afford-to-relaxLaso spoke to Realmadrid TV in the build-up to the league match-up against Tecnyconta Zaragoza (Saturday, 7pm CET), where he had the following to say: "The team has recovered well following the exertions of the EuroLeague. We know that March is a tough month for us, we've got a lot of games and road trips and we find ourselves in a situation in which we have to value our rest and recovery".

"We're not taking anything for granted against a Tecnyconta Zaragoza team that has been performing very well of late and came really close to winning in Tenerfie last time out. We know that we'll have to put in a good performance if we're to win".

Several rounds still to go
"There are still several rounds of games to go. Whilst we have a signficant lead, we can't afford to relax. We're nearly in the playoffs but we've got to try and finish as high up as possible to get home-court advantage. We've been beaten three times and that speaks volumes of the job being done by the team, but we've now got to round it off. All of the teams are now pushing, they've all got their targets and we're going to try and finish as high up as possible".

Reyes's 38th birthday
"He's a key player for us and is in very good shape. He's been here for many years, he's our captain and for us he's a role model in terms of how to go about your work day in, day out. He's played in several positions this season, at number 4 and number 5, but he alway gives of his best and manages to win the fans' affection because he gives his all out on court".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/historic-goals-butraguenoHistoric Goals, the protagonist is Emilio Butragueño. A madridista from the youth academy, he made his debut with the first team in February 1984 and led a generation of unique talents, the Quinta del Buitre. A key player in the pursuit of two UEFA Cups in a row (1985 and 1986), el Buitre is known for his great vision, technical quality and goal-scoring ability.

Real Madrid faced Juventus on 22 October 1986 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Whites won 1-0 with a goal from Butragueño, who took advantage of Chendo's assist before finishing inside the six-yard box. In the second leg, played in Turin, Real Madrid qualified for the quarter-finals after winning the penalty shootout.

Butragueño defended the Real Madrid colours for 11 seasons, during which time he played 463 official matches and scored 171 goals. With the Madrid club he won 15 titles: two UEFA Cups, six leagues, two Copas del Rey, one League Cup and four Spanish Super Cups.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/butragueno-juventus-have-got-a-winning-mentality-and-we-will-have-to-play-two-fantastic-matches
"We trust our people and our players, who have shown once again what they are capable of against PSG. We are excited and respectful of Juventus, who are a dangerous team with talented players. We will have to be at our best, it will be a very close tie and we will have to play two fantastic matches".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-will-play-juventus-in-the-champions-league-quarter-finalsReal Madrid will come up against Juventus in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Whites will play the first leg away from home on Tuesday 3 April, while the second leg will be at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday 11 April. Zidane's side come up against the team they beat in last season's final of la Duodécima.

The runner-up of last year’s Champions League and current leader of the Serie A, make the quarter-final after knocking out Tottenham in London. Three minutes in London, where Higuain and Dybala got the goals that turned the tie around. In the Group Stage they finished second, behind Barcelona. Higuain is the top scorer in the team in this competition, with five goals.

Previous meetings
Juventus are the team that Real Madrid have come up against the second most in the European Cup, with only Bayern Munich having played the Whites more. Real Madrid have played 19 games against the Italian side, with a record of 9 wins, 2 draws and 8 defeats. In recent memory of the Whites’ supporters are the finals of the seventh and twelfth European Cup triumphs.

Quarter-final draw
Barcelona-Roma
Sevilla-Bayern Munich
Juventus-Real Madrid
Liverpool-Manchester City]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/zidane-had-the-whole-squad-out-on-the-pitchReal Madrid completed the fourth session of the week as they continue to prepare for Sunday's game against Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium (8:45pm CET). Zidane had the whole squad out on the pitch two days before the match against the Catalan team.

The madridistas completed a session where ball work was the focus. They started training with various warm-up exercises and then worked on possession and pressing. They then moved on to sprints and shooting before finishing with crossing and finishing.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-head-into-the-champions-league-quarter-finals-top-of-the-uefa-rankings
The clubs ranking coefficient is based on results in the Champions League and Europa League over the last five seasons.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-will-find-out-their-champions-league-quarter-final-rivals-on-fridayReal Madrid will find out today at 12:00 h, their next rival in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Liverpool, Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla, Rome, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are the teams that could come up against the Whites.

The draw, which will take place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, will be at random and the order of the matches will be determined by the order in which the balls are drawn. The first leg matches will be played on April 3rd/4th, while the second leg will take place on 10th/11th of the same month.

Liverpool
The English side are still unbeaten in the competition, eliminating Hoffenheim in the playoffs and their record in the competition is spectacular. Leading scorers in the tournament having finished first in a group that included Sevilla, Spartak Moscow and Maribor. In the last-16 they beat Porto, who they thrashed at home in the first leg (0-5). Firmino (7), Mané (6) and Salah (6) have netted 19 of their 28 goals.

Juventus
The runner-up from last year, and top of the Serie A, go into the draw after eliminating Tottenham in London. Three minutes in London saw goals from Higuain and Dybala, and proved to be decisive in killing the tie. In the Group Stage they finished second, behind Barcelona. Higuain is their best scorer in this competition, having fired home five goals.

Manchester City
Runaway leaders in the Premier League, they got through the Group Stage in a comfortable fashion after winning their first five matches. The knockout round, against Basel, was sorted quickly as they thumped them at home in the first leg (0-4). They also recently won the League Cup in England, outclassing Arsenal (0-3).

Roma
They reached the quarterfinals after having eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to the double value of their away goals. In the Group Stage Roma finished first ahead of Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Qarabag. Dzeko is their top marksman in the competition with 4 goals.

Sevilla
The Spanish side made history at Old Trafford by getting through to the quarter-finals of the European Cup for just the second time. The last time they got to this round was 60 years ago against Real Madrid. They played the time against Basaksehir, and this time were second in the Group Stage behind Liverpool. They slid past Manchester United in the second round. Ben Yedder is their top scorer (8).

Bayern Munich
Winner of the German Super Cup and one step away from the German Cup final, they are storming the Bundesliga and ahead of the second-place team by 20 points. In the Champions League, Bayern finished second in their group, level on points with PSG but with a lower goal average. In the last-16, they beat Besiktas.

Barcelona
They sail into the quarter-finals after dumping Chelsea out in a tie that was decided in the second leg at the Camp Nou. The azulgrana remain undefeated in the competition and were top of a group in which they played Juventus, Olympiacos and Sporting CP.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/beneficiaries-of-the-foundations-school-in-hungary-visit-madridReal Madrid Foundation in Hungary are currently enjoying an unforgettable experience in Madrid, getting to know the club and the Foundation. The young beneficiaries have taken part in a range of activities, including attending a first team training session at Real Madrid City.

The girls also enjoyed a training session at the Foundation'ssocio-sporting basketball school in Leganés, at the La Fortuna sports centre, where they had the chance to play their favourite sport alongside youngsters from the Madrid-based schools and participate in a sporting and cultural exchange, sharing the values taught at the schools. Another special stop, will be a visit to the Bernabéu Tour, where they will be able to see the trophies, walk around the dressing rooms and set foot on the pitch.

A foundation in sport
The socio-sporting school in Felcsút (Hungary), which has been running for more than six years, carries out its activities at the facilities of the Ferenc Puskas Academy and its aim is to encourage participation in sport among children and young people in vulnerable positions. To complement education in values through sporting sessions, the beneficiaries of this project also have the advantage of nutritional coaching, as well as cultural, leisure and educational support in the form of workshops on healthy lifestyle habits, theatre and exhibitions. ]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/cristiano-ronaldos-sensational-form-at-the-bernabeu-11-goals-in-5-games Santiago Bernabéu has been a key witness to the incredible recent form of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese talisman continues to show his goal-scoring prowess and after going a full month of non-stop scoring, he now has a spectacular record in the Whites' stadium, having scored 11 goals in the last five 5 games he has played there (2.2 average).

The sensational home run started on the 21st January against Deportivo de La Coruña, as he scored the first of four braces at home: PSG, Alavés and Getafe were all on the receiving end of the Portuguese forward's double strikes. Cristiano also scored his first hat-trick of the year against Real Sociedad, in an explosive tie at the Santiago Bernabéu on the 10th February. ]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/ball-work-was-the-main-focus-today-ahead-of-gironas-visitReal Madrid City. The team carried out their third session of the week before the Girona game this Sunday (8:45pm CET) at the Santiago Bernabéu. High tempo ball work took centre stage

Zidane called on the Castilla stars Manu Hernando, Tejero and Feuillassier as well as the Under-19s goalkeeper Darío. The Whites started off with short sprint sets and then focussed on possession and pressing. After that, they practiced shooting before a game on a reduced size pitch. Baleundertook a tailor-made programme out on the pitch, while Modric, Vallejo and Ramos trained using the indoor facilities.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/quarter-final-draw-to-take-place-on-16-marchReal Madrid are set to discover their Champions League quarter-final opponents this Friday, the 16th March. The Whites saw off PSGin the round of 16 to secure their place in the next round of the competition, with Liverpool, Juventus, Manchester City, Roma, Sevilla Bayern Munich and Barcelona the other teams to have qualified for this stage. It will be an unseeded draw, with the first legs to take place on the 3rd and 4th April according to the order the balls are drawn, while the return leg will be played the following week, on the 10th and 11th.

]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/2-4-the-under-19s-unfairly-eliminated-in-the-uefa-youth-leagueReal Madrid's Under-19s failed to get into the Final Four of the UEFA Youth League. The Whites made got into the quarter-finals of the tournament, but were eliminated by a Chelsea side that showed real physical strength and did enough to clinch a win at the Di Stéfano. The English side also matched the goal from Óscar with a contentious goal scored by Redan.

The initial offensive gambit from the Madridistas paid off and Óscar slotted past Cummings in goal, rifling in the best goal of the afternoon in the 6th minute. Chelsea were a side vexed, and McCormick levelled the tie in the first attempt from the away side. Next, Redan proved his mettle for the British side with the aforementioned handball goal, from a cross from James on 19 minutes. The Under-19s monopolised possession in the first half, Redan fired in a third for the blues just before halftime.

Until the last
Guti gave Ismaa chance in the second half and the forward responded by cutting the goal difference in minute 59. The forward headed into the back of the net after a powerful shot from Miguel Baeza, was denied by the crossbar. The youth team kept on and launched back into the tie, given life following the Maddox's red card on 68'. The Whites besieged their rivals, created real danger on both sides, and put Cummings to the test, but this effort got no reward and Chelsea killed the tie through St. Clair's effort.

Goals:
1-0 (min. 6): Óscar.
1-1 (min. 14): McCormick.
1-2 (min. 19): Redan.
1-3 (min. 45+2): Redan.
2-3 (min. 59): Isma.
2-4 (min.90+5): St. Clair.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/campazzos-great-run-in-the-euroleagueCampazzo It is operating at a very high level and has been throughout the season, now however, in the final stretch of the Euroleague Regular League season, he has become the reference point for Real Madrid with some spectacular performances. In the last four games, he averaged 12.7 points, 7.5 assists and 22 PIR.

The last exhibition on the court of Olimpia Milan, leading Real Madrid to a 77-88win is another demonstration from a young player whose role in the team is increasingly vital. In the win at the Palau (74-101), Campazzo got a PIR of 24 with 11 points and 9 assists. Against Fenerbahçe he notched another 11 points and 5 rebounds in his weakest performance of the four.

Two days of records
Campazzo has made the decline of the best player of the competition Luka Doncicno problem. The team have not really suffered. Against Panathinaikos his best match in Euroleague wearing the Real Madrid shirt set his record valuation in 28, with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Against Olimpia Milan he got a double-double with 14 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds (27 PIR), achieving his personal record in these last two sections.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/real-madrid-continue-preparing-for-the-girona-matchReal Madrid completed the second session of the week and continued preparing for the game against Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday (8:45pm CET). Zidane also called up Feuillassier from the Castilla squad for the session. Modric and Bale trained inside the facility.

The madridistas completed a session in which ball work took centre stage. They started training with various warm-up exercises then moved on to possession and pressing before finishing with different games in reduced spaces.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/casemiro-more-clinical-than-ever-in-attackThe work of Casemiro in winning back the ball is always highlighted. However, the Brazilian has also shown his ability to cause problems in attack. He did it last year, scoring decisive goals like the one in the Cardiff final. And he’s doing it again this season, having already got six goals and three assists.

With several months still to play, Casemiro is already having his best campaign in the attacking side of the game, bettering the 6 goals and 1 assist in the 2016/17 season and the two assist and one goal in 2015/16.

The Brazilian has scored in three competitions: LaLiga (four), Champions League (one) and European Super Cup (one). Deportivo, Las Palmas, Málaga and Leganés were on the receiving end of his goals in the domestic competition while in Europe he scored against Manchester United in the first official game of the season and in the visit to PSG in the second leg of the round of 16. Six goals as well as the assists against Deportivo, Betis and Leganés.
]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/the-best-attack-in-the-major-european-leagues-in-2018Real Madrid have already scored 37 league goals in 2018, a figure that sees them leading the way as the team to have scored the most goals this year in the top European leagues. PSG, in France, are behind the Whites with 35 goals. Next in the standings come Bayern Munich, leaders of the Bundesliga, with 28 goals.

In the Spanish League, Real Madrid are followed by Barcelona (27) and Atlético de Madrid (23), while in Italy, Lazio have the best attacking record in the competition in 2018 with 23 goals. Finally, in the English league, Manchester City lead the pack with 24 goals.

Scorers
12 different Real Madrid players have got the 37 goals, with Cristiano Ronaldo the stand-out player with 14 goals. The Portuguese forward is followed by Bale (six) and Sergio Ramos (three). Lucas, Nacho, Kroos, Benzema and Asensio have got two goals each while Modric, Marcelo, Isco and Casemiro make up the list with a goal each.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/on-this-day-petrovic-posted-62-points-in-the-final-of-the-cup-winners-cupDrazen Petrovic delivered an iconic performance in the final of the Cup Winners' Cup. The Balkan-born player made a key contribution against Snaidero Caserta, producing a sublime display - in which he made 62 points - to etch his name into the history books of the club's basketball team.

The match-up was staged at Athens' Peace and Friendship Stadium and ended in a 117-113 win for the Whites. The game was decided in overtime and besides Petrovic's stellar performance, Óscar Schmidt sunk 44 points and was a standout performer for the Italians. This victory saw the madridistas claim the Cup Winners' Cup crown for a second time in the club's history, after having lifted the trophy in the 1984 edition.

Club legendPetrovic played for Real Madrid in the 1988/89 season and as well as capturing the European Cup Winners' Cup, he also lifted a Copa del Rey crown. Despite only spending a season at the club, he holds legendary status within the club's basketball team on account of his quality and professionalism.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/campazzo-racks-up-100th-real-madrid-appearanceCampazzo made his 100th appearance for Real Madrid in Milan in a game which ended in a 77-88 win for the Whites after yet another masterclass from the Madrid man (14 points, 11 assists and a PIR of 27.) The Argentine poiint guard reaches this landmark in his second spell at the club. His century of appearances have come in the following competitions: 54 in the league, 37 in the EuroLeague, six in the Copa del Rey and three in the Super Cup.

"This was a cup final for us and we were really clear about how we had to play against Milan. We've got to take things one step at a time. That's the ideal way to approach what lies ahead. The remaining games are all like cup finals. They've got players which great individual ability and when we managed to dicatate the tempo in defense we were able to stop them scoring. It was a good team effort in offense and we were smart in many areas of our game. Whenever we defended well, we remained in control of the game. We then gave them a bit of a boost on three-pointers but we dominated the match".
]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/laso-we-controlled-the-match-for-40-minutesReal Madrid coach Pablo Laso was pleased with the Whites’ win against Olimpia Milan by 77-88: "I must congratulate the team for the victory. We played a very solid game during the whole 40 minutes against a team with a great offensive game and high-quality players in attack. We had control throughout the game. I'm happy with win, but there are still four more games to play in the Regular Season".

"In defense we were very solid and in attack we moved the ball well. We controlled the game with an advantage of 21 points five minutes from the end. It’s true that they have got three three-pointers that have made it tight but we responded well".]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/77-88-madrid-wins-in-milan-with-another-campazzo-masterclass
The determination with which Real Madrid took to the Mediolanum Center court saw the guests boss proceedings right from tip-off. With barely three minutes on the clock, Madrid was 12-2 up with all of the starting quintet playing their part: Tavares and Randoph proving to be an intimidating presence in defense (four blocks between them), Campazzo calling the shots (four assists) and the Carroll-Taylor duo sinking points. The introduction of Jerrells and Gudaitis, along with the emergence of Kuzminskas, saw the hosts up things in the offensive stakes, but the Whites closed out the first stanza with a +8 courtesy of a trey right on the buzzer from the Argentine point guard (17-25).

Biggest lead for Madrid
The Whites produced some of their best basketball in the second quarter, where they were solid and left few gaps to be exploited. With Milan delivering in offense (27-30, min 13), the guests produced another surge to establish the biggest lead of the game at 34-47 in the 18th minute, courtesy of their fine form from the three-point line. They sunk no fewer than five tripes as Rudy and the excellent Randolph stole the headeline to take their team into the break with 49 points to their name (36-49, min. 20).]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/first-training-session-of-the-week-at-real-madrid-citysquad today returned to training at Real Madrid City as preparations for Sunday's meeting with Girona (8:45pm CET) got under way. All members of the squad, plus Castilla defender Álvaro Tejero, took part in the session.

The Whites completed a workout which saw ball work take centre stage. After beginning the session with some possession and pressure drills, the players then took part in a circuit featuring ball-based exercises.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/cristiano-ronaldo-is-spanish-footballs-leading-marksman-this-termCristiano Ronaldo's goals really do come in all shapes and sizes and this has once again proved to be the case this term. His double at Ipuruasaw Real Madrid's all-time leading marksman become the top scorer in Spanish football this season, having netted 33 times in his 34 appearances.

On the back of a prolific month in which he found the net in seven successive games, Ronaldo tops the scoring charts thanks to his goals return in the following four competitions: LaLiga (18 goals), the Champions League (12), the Club World Cup (two) and the Spanish Super Cup (one). Coming in behind the Real Madrid sharpshooter in the standings are Lionel Messi (32 goals in 41 games) and Luis Suárez (24 strikes in 39 appearances).

Magnificent second half of the campaignRonaldo began 2018 in stunning form, as evidenced by his impressive stats. Since the second half of the LaLiga season got up and running back in mid-January, the Portuguese frontman has registered 14 times in nine games. This goal haul places him ahead of AntoineGriezmann (11), Suárez (eight) and Messi (seven).]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/olimpia-milan-v-real-madrid-all-about-retaining-top-four-spotEuroLeague playoffs after downing Panathinaikos, Real Madrid now faces two key road trips in their bid to secure their passage into the next stage and keep themselves in the hunt to end the Regular Season, of which five rounds remain, amongst the top four. Tonight is the first of these away match-ups (with the second one to come on 20 March in Valencia), which sees Madrid lock horns with an Olimpia Milán side for whom it really is a case of last chance saloon in terms of finishing in the top eight.

The fact that Real Madrid (15-10) has six more wins to its name than the Italian outfit (9-16) doesn't offer an indication of what a tough prospect lies in store tonight at the Mediolanum Center. The Whites come into the game after having swatted Panathinaikos aside (92-75) and they have emerged victorious in their last four trips to Olimpia Milán. However, Pianigiani's charges, who are joint-top of the Italian league, still have an outside chance of making the playoffs and are in winning form after having downed Khimki and Anadolu Efes.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/reunion-with-ronaldo-nazario-15-years-laterReal Madrid matches. Ronaldo Nazario was his idol and Juan Alberto, thanks to his effort and with the help of Make-A-Wish Spain and the Real Madrid Foundation, lived his dream February 2003, at the age of 11, he fulfilled the dream of meeting the Brazilian champion at the White club’s facilities.

Fifteen years later, the reunion between Ronaldo and Juan Alberto, once his health problems were overcome, is a clear reflection of how dreams are an engine of motivation for children with serious illnesses. Tannia Rausell, president of Make-A-Wish Spain said: "Our children and their families travel a very difficult road until they arrive here and meet the champions who inspire them to continue fighting. And that way they do it thanks to a vital engine: hope. The hope of being close to you has an immense transforming power in their lives".

For his part, Ronaldo, currently ambassador of Real Madrid, said: "I’m very happy to see Juan Alberto again and think about the responsibility that professional players have towards children who suffer the most because we convey hope for their hard work and motivation".

Alliance
During these 15 years of collaboration between Make-A-Wish Spain and the Real Madrid Foundation, about 150 children have been able to fulfill their dreams of meeting a player, living the experience of attending an official Whites’ match or going on the Bernabéu Tour. Hope is a way to generate resilience in these little ones. Since 1999, the Foundation has been working to create hope for children suffering from serious illnesses and, since November 2009, it is part of the Make-A-Wish International organisation, present in more than 50 countries and every 17 minutes they make a dream come true somewhere in the world.

Hope
The Real Madrid Foundation develops various lines of care for sick children both inside and outside hospitals. The collaboration of Real Madrid and the generosity of the football and basketball teams means that each season more than 200 youngsters in extremely serious situations can fulfill their dream, and that more than a thousand are visited at Christmas in the main hospitals in Madrid.]]>https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2018/03/laso-olympia-milan-play-very-attractive-basketballLaso and Anthony Randolph spoke ahead of the match between Real Madrid and Olimpia Milan at the Mediolanum Forum (Tuesday, 8:45pm CET). The coach said: "It's not a final. There are five matches left and each game will be important. We want to mathematically qualify for the playoff as soon as possible, it’s in our hands and it’s down to us".

"Yes, we know it's an important match, like every game when you’re approaching the end of the regular season, the team is aware of that, they have worked well and now we’re in a good position, but we know the difficulty of these matches. We have to show a good attitude and be prepared to work, because the match dictates it as we’re up against a team with a lot of quality".

The opposition
"The first game was one of the games where we started picking up injuries, with Radoncic playing in the starting line and he gave us energy from the start. Olympia Milan play very attractive basketball, very open, scoring many points, with high-scoring players and when they’re on form they’re difficult to stop. It’s important to understand this from the first minute and make the game a long one for them in that aspect so that we can impose our rhythm on the match".

Randolph: "Every EuroLeague match is important"
"We want to win every game and finish as high as possible in the standings to go in to the playoffs in a strong position. Every EuroLeague match is important and we’re fighting for home-court advantage. We have to come out switched on. We’ve had to get over the fact we’ve had injuries and many of the players who don’t play so much have stepped up to be counted. That has made us stronger, we’re becoming a more complete team and that will give us more strength in the playoff".]]>